What aren't you okay with?
- Thread starter SpringerLover
- Start date
I am not ok with
HA - Nope, not OK with it. General aloofness is OK, but straight up HA, not acceptable.
Same with DA/DR/ inability to live with other dogs. Currently Hudson is an only dog, but I would like it if this weren't always the case. We also visit family a lot, my parents & my sister have dogs, so not going to work.
Those two are pretty much the only 2 deal breakers, things I would like to avoid:
severe allergies
Separation anxiety
HA - Nope, not OK with it. General aloofness is OK, but straight up HA, not acceptable.
Same with DA/DR/ inability to live with other dogs. Currently Hudson is an only dog, but I would like it if this weren't always the case. We also visit family a lot, my parents & my sister have dogs, so not going to work.
Those two are pretty much the only 2 deal breakers, things I would like to avoid:
severe allergies
Separation anxiety
I personally wouldn't automatically rule out a dog with fair hips depending on a variety of other factors. As Julee says, there's room for error with the x-rays, crappy positioning can get you a different rating versus somebody who is really skilled and gets excellent positioning. IMO a breeding dog is a culmination of multiple factors, not just their OFA hip rating, so for me a "fair" rating is not automatically reason to throw a dog out of the breeding program. Similarly I also don't view an excellent hip rating as an immediate go-ahead. But that's just me personally.
See, once a breed(s)-specific health problem becomes so widespread that you just kind of have to accept it or severely restrict your gene pool... I'm personally just not interested. SM/MVD in Cavaliers, deafness in Dals, CEA... no matter how much I might like a breed, just no. For a variety of reasons.
You definitely are not the only one.
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I think everyone here covered mine already, tbh. Things like drooling and wrinkles and such are particular to breeds I wouldn't be looking at anyway, so I wouldn't be ruling out individual breeders based on those things. But things like breeding dogs with allergies, orthopedic issues, HA or DA (which in breeds I would consider is not proper temperament), behavioral instability, lack of appropriate drive, etc. is just a no-go for me. That said, I am willing to have a discussion on certain things to see if there are extenuating circumstances.
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I think everyone here covered mine already, tbh. Things like drooling and wrinkles and such are particular to breeds I wouldn't be looking at anyway, so I wouldn't be ruling out individual breeders based on those things. But things like breeding dogs with allergies, orthopedic issues, HA or DA (which in breeds I would consider is not proper temperament), behavioral instability, lack of appropriate drive, etc. is just a no-go for me. That said, I am willing to have a discussion on certain things to see if there are extenuating circumstances.
Totally agree with both of you, I actually had a bit in my post about this... in some breeds, finding a healthy insert-joint-here is like finding the holy grail. And in a non-AKC ruled world, the solution would be to breed in another breed... but... yeah. Not the world we live in at the moment.
Of course if somebody points out to the AKC how they could totally turn that into a money making venture, I bet they'd be all for it. ;P
Of course if somebody points out to the AKC how they could totally turn that into a money making venture, I bet they'd be all for it. ;P
I was totally spreading my eeeeevil mixed breeding/outcrossing propaganda the other night 
But it does seem like, outside of certain circles, it's extremely frowned upon. My (extremely long term) goal is to start an outcross program for Bernese Mountain Dogs.
I tried explaining the resistance toward outcrossing to my boyfriend one time. He likes dogs but is not at all a "dog person", and is also very science/genetics minded... he was baffled. Absolutely could not wrap his mind around it.
But it does seem like, outside of certain circles, it's extremely frowned upon. My (extremely long term) goal is to start an outcross program for Bernese Mountain Dogs.I tried explaining the resistance toward outcrossing to my boyfriend one time. He likes dogs but is not at all a "dog person", and is also very science/genetics minded... he was baffled. Absolutely could not wrap his mind around it.
It is kind of relieving that other people think about it too. It is also kind of funny to me because I was totally the "OMG purpose bred mixes are complete evil" but now, I think it is a good idea in a controlled fashion.
So many breeds need new, healthier blood. I don't own Rotts but I always come back to their elbow issue. And Dals with the their inability to pee. And Cavs with their heart problems. Not that ESS are exempt by any means though.
So many breeds need new, healthier blood. I don't own Rotts but I always come back to their elbow issue. And Dals with the their inability to pee. And Cavs with their heart problems. Not that ESS are exempt by any means though.
For some reason this is hard for me to think about lol.
I guess DA/HA would be the big "traits" that I just won't deal with. Wouldn't be interested in a breed where this is "normal" and wouldn't go to a breeder whose dogs had such issues.
Obviously I'm going to be hesitant if there are known health issues too. Wouldn't exactly willingly take on an unhealthy dog.
Overall most things I am willing to deal with, on their own. I don't handle combinations of issues (this is primarily why Cajun #1 was returned... too many issues which, on their own, might have been manageable but she had SO MANY it was overwhelming). And most things, I am willing to deal with if they end up occurring, but wouldn't exactly be keen on getting a dog if you told me "hey, most likely you're going to have XYZ issue with it." I don't like to KNOW that I'm getting myself into trouble
And I have no idea if I'm making any sense, so anyway, I'll just go away now lol.
I guess DA/HA would be the big "traits" that I just won't deal with. Wouldn't be interested in a breed where this is "normal" and wouldn't go to a breeder whose dogs had such issues.
Obviously I'm going to be hesitant if there are known health issues too. Wouldn't exactly willingly take on an unhealthy dog.
Overall most things I am willing to deal with, on their own. I don't handle combinations of issues (this is primarily why Cajun #1 was returned... too many issues which, on their own, might have been manageable but she had SO MANY it was overwhelming). And most things, I am willing to deal with if they end up occurring, but wouldn't exactly be keen on getting a dog if you told me "hey, most likely you're going to have XYZ issue with it." I don't like to KNOW that I'm getting myself into trouble
And I have no idea if I'm making any sense, so anyway, I'll just go away now lol.
I wouldn't want to deal with health issues right out of the gate (like I wouldn't buy a dysplastic pup for example) but things that come up, torn ACL, allergies, eh, it sucks but it happens.
Mostly what I'm concerned with is proper temperament. I wouldn't want an HA or shy APBT, I wouldn't want a silly friendly Rottweiler, I wouldn't want a hunting or herding dog that couldn't perform drive-wise to the breed standard. Things of that nature.
My hound mutt has stolen my heart and I would like to keep a beagle or beagle mix forever alongside my purebreds. For my little muttley sidekicks, I only require a kind, biddable temperament.
Mostly what I'm concerned with is proper temperament. I wouldn't want an HA or shy APBT, I wouldn't want a silly friendly Rottweiler, I wouldn't want a hunting or herding dog that couldn't perform drive-wise to the breed standard. Things of that nature.
My hound mutt has stolen my heart and I would like to keep a beagle or beagle mix forever alongside my purebreds. For my little muttley sidekicks, I only require a kind, biddable temperament.